Car-axle box



G.'P..GO.DLEY.

OAR AXLE BOX.

Patnted Jan. 3,1882.

. ZNVENTOR 7 WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE-F. GODLEY, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-'AXLE BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,869, dated January 3, 1882,

Application filed November 17, 1881.

' ings, wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a car-axle box embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of axle-journal and lubricatin ring. Fig. 3 is a similar view of axle with c ain. Fig. 4 is a section of a chain with buckets attached thereto. Figs. 5, 7, and 8 are broken sectional perspectives of modified construction of buckets or nicks for the lubricating-ring. Fig. 6 is a perspective of a modification of the chain form of lubricator, and Fig. 9 is a plan, partly in section, of the forward end of axle-box.

My invention has relation to car-axle boxes, and more particularly to mechanism for lubricating the axle and its bearin g contained there in, and refers to that class of lubricators which consist of a ring loosely mounted upon the axle-journal, and made of sufficient diameter that it will dip into the oil-well, so that when the axle revolves said ring will be thereby rotated to convey oil to the axle-journal. Such rings as heretofore constructed were not always reliable in their operation,.and instead of revolving with the axle durin g the rotation of the latter they often slipped thereon and did not revolve therewith. Consequently during such slipping of the rings no oil was conveyed to the axle-journal and the latter soon became hot. t

My invention has for its object to so construct such rings that they will always rotate with the car-axle journal, and thereby insure a constant lubrication of the axle-journal when the latter is in motion.

My invention accordingly consists ofa ring or chain provided with nicks, receptacles, crevices, or buckets,preferably on its inner diameter or side. Said nicks or buckets, as the ring is revolved, take up and hold therein a small quantity of oil and convey the same to the axle-journ al. They also act to preventthe ring (N0 model.)

from slipping on the axle-journal when the lat ter rotates. Hence as said ring invariably revolves when the axle-journal is rotated the latter is constantly and effective] y lubricated during such movement.

My invention still further consists in certain details of construction, as hereinafter more fully set forth. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents a car-axle box, B the axle-journal, and O the bearing therefor. The latter is formed with a groove, 0, which may be central or placed at any other desired location in said hearing. The upper side, 0, of the bearing is made longitudinally convex, as shown, and the lower side of the key D is concaved correspondingly to conform thereto, as indicated at 01. t Such construction of the bearing and key prevents the former from tilting on either end thereof when one end of the axle is raised or lowered to a greater extent than its opp'osite end. Hence such bearingis always maintained in alignment with the axle-journal, such raising or lowering of one end of the axle occurring when the traveling car passes around curves 5 or it may result from other causes. When the bearing 0 is used in axle-boxes wherein the keys D are dispensed with, then the under surfaces of the top sides of said boxes are formed concave to receive said bearing.

In the groove 0 is placed a ring or chain,'E, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Such ring is of a larger diameter than that of the axle, so that said ring will dip down into and pass through the oil-well a. of box A. Said ring is provided with buckets, nicks, receptacles, or crevices e on its inner diameter, as shown. These nicks or buckets may be shaped and arranged in various ways, depending upon the amount of oil desired to be supplied to the axle-journal.

In Fig. 1 I have shown each nick or bucket continued across the inner face of such ring, and every other bucket formed or shaped reversely to that of its predecessor, as shown more plainly at e and 0 Fig. 2, the-purpose whereof is as follows: As the car or train travels to and from distant termini the car-axles revolve in opposite directions. 1 Hence provision must be made for supplying oil to each axle-journal as it moves in each such direction. Consequently the buckets on the ring E are so arranged that when the axle is rotating in one direction a portion of or one series of buckets will convey oil to the journal, and when revolving in an opposite direction the remaining or other series of buckets will then convey oil to said axlejournal, so that the latter will at all times be freely and sufficiently lubricated.

If desired, the nicks or buckets may be so made that they extend only half-way across the inner face of said ring and have aseparating-partition, 0 between them, thus forming two annular series or rows of buckets, in which case the buckets of one row wi 1 be reversely formed to that of the other. When so arranged only one row of buckets act at a given time to convey oil to the axlejournal, the remaining row being held in reserve to oil the axle-journal at a different time, or when it rotates in another direction. Such construction of the buckets is shown in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 3 and 4z I have illustrated a chain, F, thelinks of which are nicked or formed with buckets ee or said buckets may be made separate from said links and secured thereto, as represented at 0 Fig. 4. Such nicks or buckets not only serve to convey oil to the axle-journal, but'they also act to present points of contact with its periphery, so that the ring will always be caused to rotate by said axle when thelatter revolves. Hence there will be no slipping of the ring on said axle-journal, and the latter will not be insufficiently supplied with oil.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a chain the links whereof are struck up from sheet metal, as at ff,the linkf having its sidesf j' bent up to form a bucket,f with timing ends, as shown, so that said bucket will convey oil to the journal in either direction of its movement.

If desired, the joints of the sides f f may be soldered, as indicated atf to make said bucket oil or liquid tight.

In Fig. 7 the ringis formed with cylindrical buckets e and nicks c,,the former being the oil-conveyers and the latter the points of contact or teeth for engaging with the axle-journal to insure rotation of said ring.

If desired, the buckets 0 (shown in Fig. 7) may be dispensed with, and in lieu thereof an annular groove may be formed on the inner diameter of the ring, as represented at 6, Fig.8.

The box A is formed with dovetailed or other grooves a in its front wall, a into which slides a lid, A, made of wrought or other iron or metal. It is provided with lugs a and a cap, a, which serves as a cover for a part of the top of the box, as shown.

A is a metallic spring-bar placed in guides or against abutments a (t formed on the axlebox, so as to be immediately in front of'the rounded end bofaxle B, as illustrated in Fig.1.

if desired, the bar A may be provided with a boss, a riveted thereto, or it may be integral therewith. When such boss is used the box A is formed with opening a to permit of the introduction of said bar A and its boss a into said box. Hence the necessity of cap a on lid A. The latter is retained in place by an attached spring, a", passing over a rib, a formed on the inside of the front wall, a Such location of the bar A and boss a in front of the axle causes said parts to be in line with each other, and the spaceheretofore left between such axle and car-axle-box lid is filled up by said bar and boss, as shown in Fig. 1. Hence when from any cause the axle moves longitudinally the endthrust induced by said movement is prevented by reason of the extremities of the axle coming in contact with the bar A. The ring 0 therefore is not so liable to be displaced from the groove 0 of bearing 0, and the latter being prevented from tilting on its ends, as above described, said ring cannot at any time find its way under the bearing or become wedged between the latter and the axle-journal. Hence such ring will always retain its normal position and reliably act to lubricate the axle and its bearing.

I haveshown the boss c as made separate from the bar A and riveted thereto; but, if desired, when said bar is made of wrought or spring metal said boss may be stamped or punched out to project therefrom; or it may be formed integral with the bar in any other suitable manner.

I have shown the nicked ring as being especially adapted for car-axles; but itis obvious that it may be applied to other forms of journal-bearin gs.

The axle-box maybe provided withany suitable form of dustshield, G, which maybe made of cork or other similar material .and held in place by a spring or band, 9.

If desired, the linksf of chain F (shown in Fig. 6) may be formed without the bucketsf; or, in other words, it may be a plain link, as shown atf. In such case said chain will consist of a series of very thin links, especially desirable for use inboxes having thin bearings, so that the latter need not be deeply grooved or recessed. If desired, the edges of said links may be turned over upon the body of the links to stiffen the latter, and also to prevent the chain working in between the axle and the bearing. When such plain links are used they are designed to be perforated, as shown at q, Fig. 6, such perforations acting as buckets to hold and convey oil to the axle.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In an oiling device for car-axle boxes, a

3. In acar-ax'le box, the combination of axle- In testimony that; I claim the foregoing I 10 journal B, the bearing 0, having curved surhave hereunto set my hand this 4th day of N0- face 0, the key or box top curved at d, and vember, A. D. 1881. ring or chain E, said bearing being grooved at 5 c to receive said ring or chain, substantially as GEORGE F. GODLEY.

shown and described.

4. The nicked or bucketed. ring or chain Witnesses: substantially as shown, and for the purpose set G. B. ROBERTS, V forth. J AS. W. FLETCHER. 

